Archer: Orlando Scandrick absent from conditioning program

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Orlando Scandrick absent from conditioning program

Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter

IRVING, Texas -- Since Dez Bryant has yet to sign his franchise-tag tender, it is no surprise he is not at the first day of the Dallas Cowboys' voluntary offseason program. But it is somewhat surprising that cornerback Orlando Scandrick is not at Valley Ranch.

Though the program is voluntary, if Scandrick skips the first week he would be hurt more financially.

Scandrick (pictured) is to make $1.5 million in 2015, but he has a de-escalator in his contract that if he doesn’t take part in 90 percent of the offseason workouts he would forfeit $500,000. A two-game suspension last year cost him roughly $400,000.

In the past Scandrick has been one of the core players involved in the offseason workouts and is one of the defensive leaders.

The Cowboys extended Scandrick’s contract in 2013 through 2018, guaranteeing him $9 million, but it dropped his 2015 base salary from $5 million to $1.5 million. Brandon Carr is to make $8 million this season, and Morris Claiborne has a $2.6 million base salary in the final year of his rookie contract.

Scandrick has outperformed both players the past three years and has added value because of his ability to play in the slot.

In March the New Orleans Saints re-worked the contract of cornerback Keenan Lewis, guaranteeing him $10.45 million of the $13.05 million he was to receive over the next three seasons. Scandrick is scheduled to make just $10.5 million over the next four seasons. His $3 million base salary in 2016 becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year.

Scandrick’s absence makes the Cowboys’ cornerback spot even cloudier. The Cowboys hope Claiborne will be ready for training camp coming off a serious knee injury, and they hope to drop Carr’s $12.7 million salary-cap figure with a pay cut.

The Cowboys brought in most of the top-flight cornerbacks available in next week’s draft to Valley Ranch within the last two weeks, including Marcus Peters, Jalen Collins, Byron Jones and Kevin Johnson, and could go with one of them at No. 27 in the first round.

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